• Son of David Shirrefs, builder, Aberdeen, and Jane Lunan.
• 1779 – M.A., Marischal College
• Apprenticed to John Gordon.
• Some­time Joint Sheriff Clerk Depute and Commissary Court Procurator Fiscal.
• 1796 – Married, 4th September, Anne Mill
• 1795 – Joint assessor and clerk to the Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen.
• 1801 – Admitted 28th August, as a Guild burgess of Aberdeen
• 1806-15 – Fiars Juror
• 1800-02 – Treasurer of the Society of Advocates
• 1806-08 – President of the Society of Advocates
• 1823 – Died at Aberdeen 22^nd July,  aged 63